Lake Kasumigaura

Kasumigaura is a lake located in the southeast side of Ibaraki prefecture and the second largest lake following Lake Biwa in Japan. The lake’s area is 220 ㎢ accounting for 35% of Ibaraki prefecture. “Ura” of Kasumiga-ura means the sea, not “lake”, because it originally was a cove and later became a lagoon by deposition separated from the open sea.

Various species of fish including Japanese smelt , carp, gobioid , and black bass inhabit in Kasumigaura where many rivers gather, and water birds come abroad in winter. You can enjoy lake activities such as fishing, sailing, and motor boating.

Lake Kasumigaura has been a famous picturesque place, the scenery that the Hobikibune is selling with the wind on the lake is a well-known beauty. The Hobikibune was invented in the period of Meiji and used for one of the Japanese fishing styles called “Hobiki-ami Ryo” to catch Ice goby and Japanese smelt but trawl-boats were started to be used for fishing in 1967. Currently, the Hobikibune is sailing for tourism from summer to autumn and you can watch it on the tour boat.

Tsukuba Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road around the side of the lake is about a 180 km long network of cycling paths located between Mt. Tsukuba and Lake Kasumigaura. This road meets the standard criteria including the safety environment and acceptance by the local area so was designated as the National Cycle Route by the government in 2019. The seven courses selected by distance and route are introduced.